Capsule-stripping machine



(No Model.)

` H. M. FERRY. CAPSULE STRIPPING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 11,1893.4

Nrrnov TATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M.` FERRY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CAPSU LE-STRIPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,407, dated April 11, 1893. Application filed August 6, 1892 Serial No. 442,329. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom t may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY M. FERRY, of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for Stripping Soft Capsules from their Molds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in an improvement in mechanism for stripping soft capsules from their molds, hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Figure lis a side elevation of one stripper.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line m, Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central section through animproved capsule mold (which forms the subject of a separate application filed contemporaneously herewith). Fig. 5 is a side elevation of said mold and Fig. 6 is a section on line y-y, Fig. et.

F F represent two hollow boxes, preferably of metal, in each of which is formed a chamber G, which is approximately the shape of one-half of a mold having thereon a capsule. The two boxes F F together form a vacuum stripper bar. The boxes F are each secured to one end of a bracket M M, which brackets are pivoted at the points J .I in a yoke K, provided with a stem L by which the device is supported on any suitable table or rest.

R represents a spiral spring by which said brackets M M are drawn toward each other so as to hold the boxes F F normally in contact.

I I represent perforations through the walls of the chambers G G, and H H represent openings through the walls of the boxes F F, which openings H are connected by means of pipes N N, (preferably rubber hose) with a pipe l?, the other end of which is connected with an exhaust or vacuum pump.

I have only shown the boxes F F of sufficient capacity for stripping a single capsule,

.but in practice they will be formed long enough to be provided with a number of chambers G to strip a number of capsules at a single operation, in which case the yoke K will be the length of the whole box. In Fig. 3 in dotted lines is shown a capsule mold D, having a stem A, and having a capsule, represented by E, formed therou, in position within the chamber G.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The capsule being formed in the mold ready to strip, the exhaust pump is set in motion, drawing air through the perforation I. The boxes F F are slightly separated, sufficient to permit the insertion of the mold D with its capsule E, and then permitted to close upon said capsule, when the effectof the exhaust pump will be to cause an air pressure within the capsule, pressing it against the sides of the chambers G G and holding it there while the mold is withdrawn either by hand or by power. As soon as a capsule or a series of capsules is stripped from the mold or molds, the exhaust pump is stopped, when the capsules may be removed either by hand, or by opening the molds when inverted and dropping them out onto any suitable receptacle.

The capsule mold shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is peculiarly adapted to co-operate with this stripping mechanism by inverting the boxes F, so that they hang by stem L from an upper support. D represents the mold having a small orifice d in its point, and carried on a hollow stem A. B represents avalve whose stem passes through stem A, adapted to close orifice d. C represents a weight on valve B. When the mold is dipped valve B closes oritice d, and when the mold is inverted, weight C withdraws valve B from orifice d, thuspermitting access of air to the interior of the capsule, and facilitating the operation of the stripper bar.-

The mold above described is not herein claimed, as it constitutes the` subject-matter of a separate application filed of even date herewith, Serial N o. 442,328.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

l. A stripper bar for capsules consisting of a two part hollow bar, each part having formed therein a perforated chamber substantially half the size of the capsule, and an exhaust pump connected with the two parts of said bar, substantially as shown and described.

2. A stripper bar for capsules, consisting of two hollow boxes pivoted in a yoke and normally drawn together by spring pressure, a chamber adapted to receive the capsule formed equally in said two hollow boxes and perforations in said chambers, and means the capsule in a. chamber` by atmospheric whereby air may be exhausted from said pressureand-thenwithdrawingthe mold from chamber for removing the capsule from its the capsule or vice versa.

mold Without collapsing, substantially as de- Y HENRY M. FERRY. 5 scribed. Witnesses:

3. Theherein described method of stripping JESSE M. SMI-TH,

. a capsule from a mold consisting in holding GERTRUDE H. ANDERSON. 

